Apply 'Ifs' On Deadly Force

Unless you are in danger or someone else is, you don't shoot them.'' -- Emerson Thompson, Orange County circuit judge.

''The time is here and we have to do something about this. Our deadly- force policy needs to be more restrictive.'' -- David Rigsby, DeLand city councilman.

Emerson Thompson and David Rigsby know that their respective cities -- Orlando and DeLand -- need tougher rules on when police can shoot. Both know that allowing police to shoot anyone who runs can tear a community apart and result in some tragic deaths.

Too bad the Legislature didn't have that same vision.

Lawmakers had a smart proposal from Orlando Rep. Alzo Reddick that allowed police to shoot only when the suspect was posing an immediate danger to someone. The idea passed the House. But Senate leaders refused even to vote on it.

Never mind that Florida's current law is horribly broad and lets police use ''any'' force necessary to stop a fleeing felon. Never mind that the U.S. Supreme Court declared Tennessee's fleeing-felon law -- which is similar to Florida's -- unconstitutional last year because it was so broad. And never mind that the fatal shooting of two suspects in Orlando and DeLand earlier this year caused city officials to call for a tougher fleeing-felon law.

Now that state lawmakers have refused to get tough, it is up to Orlando and DeLand to toughen their own policies on deadly force. Those cities need only listen to Judge Thompson and Mr. Rigsby.

Judge Thompson is with a citizens' group that is studying Orlando's shooting policy. And he's right that the only time an officer should shoot is when the suspect is posing an immediate danger to the officer or a civilian.

The problem with Orlando's existing policy is that it is too broad. It lets police shoot any fleeing person suspected of an ''infamous'' crime such as murder, armed rape or armed robbery. The suspect doesn't have to be threatening someone; he just has to be running. Orlando needs a more restrictive policy.

In DeLand, the police chief, the city attorney and some members of the black community are reviewing the department's shooting regulations. Councilman Rigsby and other city officials rightly have called for a tougher regulation that allows police to shoot only when they or someone else is in danger.

Both these citizens' groups can do a service to police and their communities by recommending the kinds of policies that Judge Thompson and Mr. Rigsby are suggesting. Deadly force must be a police officer's last option. The Legislature failed to recognize that. But now two cities that have suffered through the tragedy of police shootings can take the lead.